An hour’s drive south of Doha, near Qatar’s sandswept southern border, lies the hauntingly beautiful Khor Al Adaid, or “the inland sea” – an impressive idiosyncrasy of nature, sparkling with shoals of silver sardines. One of the few places on the planet where the ocean encroaches deep into the heart of a desert, it’s a Unesco-listed refuge for wildlife including Arabian gazelles, turtles and dugongs (better known as “sea cows”). And now the precipitous dunes that encircle it, stretching for miles in each direction, are a refuge for adrenaline junkies, too.

Down here in Qatar’s south-eastern corner, sand sports are all the rage. Multiple operators offer half-day, full-day or overnight trips from Doha, for activities ranging from sand-skiing and sand-boarding to dune bashing in 4x4 jeeps.

Letting your hair down around the shifting sands in the warm Arabian wind is a rare thrill – part Mad Max, part Lawrence of Arabia – while the luminous inland sea on the horizon adds a sense of sheer unearthliness to proceedings. Dust flies as I power effortlessly up and down the fluid ridges, sunlight twinkling across the inland sea.

Sandboarding is considerably harder than it looks. The boards themselves are smaller and thinner than you might expect – more skateboard than snowboard – and while the nature of sand means beginners are able to tackle far steeper gradients than they would ever be able to on snow, it’s also harder to turn properly or stop. Cue laughter and face-plants in equal measure as I attempt to master the new discipline with a small group of fellow thrill-seekers, taking advantage of the 4x4 jeep that brought us here, as an improvised ski lift. Finally, caked in sand but exhilarated, we retreat to the inland sea to wash off the evidence of our endeavours in the warm, tranquil waters.

From beginners to pros: sandboarding is suitable for all levelsCredit:
Tim E White

One of the most intriguing options following an afternoon of adventure here is to camp out under the stars, Bedouin-style. Many companies offer this as part of the excursion, with spectacular desert sunsets preceding lavish campfire barbecues. For those who wish, there are luxury tents with carpeted floors on the banks of the inland sea, while others simply grab a sleeping bag and take a dune for a pillow, sleeping under a blanket of stars.

As a nation, Qatar has developed extraordinarily fast over the past three generations, but the locals – whether their roots were settled Hadar town dwellers or nomadic Bedouin – are still fiercely proud of their ancient traditions. A trip to the desert around Khor Al Adaid is an excellent way to explore those – as well as experiencing a raft of thrilling extreme sports in a new and challenging environment. However you choose to engage with it, the beauty of this unique adventure playground is that it never stops changing and moving – as long as that warm Arabian wind keeps blowing.

Plan your trip

Book 1 night at the 5* St Regis Doha on a room only basis and 7 nights at the 4* Adaaran Select Meedhupparu on an all inclusive with Qatar Airways flights from London from £1,489 per person. Valid for selected travel dates between December 2018 – May 2019. Book by 25 February 2019